They gathered in the Great Hall. Gargoyle clan and council members mingled with a smattering of human allies as they watched the news reports come in on the large televisions that Xanatos had installed there temporarily throughout the day.
It was time, they had decided, for the clans around the world to come forward and make their presence known. After seeing the attitude switch, not completely in the gargoyles favor but a vast improvement since the night that Nayeli had accidently completed her part in the prophecy.
Because of the time differences, it was going to be a gradual thing for some, for them to have television time in front of the cameras as night fell in their locations.
Tonight, the Manhattan clan was joined by the council members as representatives of their clans and countries.
They had pre-recorded their introductions, and it would air that night on both local and nationally syndicated news stations.
It was with hope, along with a healthy dose of caution that the gargoyles gathered to watch the news that night. They had been granted the night off from their NYPD duty, so barring any major emergencies, the gargoyles were prepared to stay there and watch the news reports to gauge the reactions from the humans.
It was probably the worst kept secret in Manhattan as far as the Gargoyles went, that many of them weren't from Manhattan, but no one knew for certain where the others were from.
They would find out tonight, though.
Just before the news was to air the story, Broadway began bringing in giant bowls of popcorn. A few of the council members looked on the buttery treat with something akin to a suspicious consideration before trying the unfamiliar food, before diving in for more.
There was conversation and good natured jokes that passed through them as they began taking seats at the large table and the random chairs that had been set up around the room.
Elisa stayed near the back of the room. She could still see the screens, though at their size she didn't think that was going to be an issue, and take part in a few of the conversations. She needed to move, to pace a little, but she didn't want to bother the others.
"So," A familiar voice said from behind Elisa, making her jump a little, "are you ready for this? They've been your responsibility for a long time."
Elisa turned to look at Talon, her brother. "You know what? I think I am." She stole a quick look at her clan, her family and children. "I guess I'd better be."
"You're holding up well," He said with a smirk. "You're only pacing about a ten foot strip in the floor, not your usual room length path."
Elisa narrowed her eyes at him. "Careful, fur ball," she warned. "My nerves aren't steady enough for me to not retaliate."
"I figured," he said with a sigh. He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. "Did they tell you that I did an interview as well for the official 'Coming Out'?"
Elisa turned to him in surprise. "I thought the Labyrinth Clan was going to stand back a little while longer."
Talon gave a one shoulder shrug. "There didn't seem much point in it," he admitted. "A lot of people in Manhattan already know about us."
"Mostly the homeless that you help," Elisa concluded.
"We've always asked that those who stay in the Labyrinth keep our presence there a secret," Talon admitted. "We had planned to stay that way, but with all the Gargoyles coming out into the public, we thought our presence would be more easily accepted. Although," Talon gave her a self deprecating smile, "we didn't tell them exactly what we were. I didn't think that us being genetically mutated humans would go over well. I didn't claim we were gargoyles, either, but just let the reporter draw his own conclusions there."
Elisa nodded in agreement. "That was probably a smart move. How is everyone? Maggie and Kate?"
"We're hanging in there," Talon said. "And Kate is back taking classes at NYU."
Elisa smiled then. Kate had lived on the streets with her mother until she was about six, when her mother had left Kate behind and seemed to vanish into the homeless population of New York. Kate had been adopted by Talon and Maggie, and had grown up under their care. She'd been exceptionally smart, despite not having had any conventional schooling, and had graduated early through a vigorous homeschooling program.
She had started college right away, but she'd dropped the classes after a time, preferring to stay and help care for the inhabitants of the labyrinth until she knew what she wanted to do with her life.
"What is she taking classes in?" Elisa asked.
"She's taking classes on business management and grant writing," Talon said, pride in his voice. "She wants to see about getting an actual building and fundraising to help with the Labyrinth and our efforts with the homeless situation in New York."
"She's going to do it, too," Elisa said with a laugh. "She looks all cute and cuddly, but that's just so she can sneak up on you and lull you into a sense of ease. Then she just kind of steamrolls you until she gets what she wants."
"Kind of like someone else I know," he said, sending her a smirk.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Elisa replied.
"Uh, huh," he joked. "I'm sure you don't, Aunt Elisa."
"Hey," Elisa said with a shrug, "I'm proud of her, so I'm not going to deny it."
"Mom," Nayeli ran up to her mother, and practically bounced on her toes in anticipation. "It's almost time."
"Hey squirt," Talon said, ruffling his niece's hair. "How've you been? I haven't seen you in a while."
"Busy training," Nayeli admitted, her eyes shining in excitement. "Yoga with Bolin, self defense training with Fox and learning about Gargoyle history from Hudson."
"On top of her regular school classes." Elisa interjected.
"Those too," Nayeli said with a grin. "But I'm finally done with the physical therapy."
"That's good," Talon said, a little gruffly this time. He remembered seeing her there, laying in the hospital bed after being shot outside of the police precinct. Everyone had put a brave face on, but he knew how close it had come to being something she wouldn't have walked away from. Some of that probably had to do with her Gargoyle genetics, he thought now. And a good part was inheriting his sister's fighting spirit and stubborn streak.
"Are you guys ready?" Nayeli asked, turning to look at the screen as the news station's opening music began filling the room and conversations died down.
"You bet," Elisa said, putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Why don't you go sit with the other kids."
"Okay," Nayeli said with happiness in her tone, then turned as she was winding her way through the crowd.
"I swear," Talon said, "It's like looking at a mirror image of you, sometimes."
"God," Elisa huffed out, running a hand through her hair. "I hope not."
Talon tossed his head back and laughed, then was shushed by the others in the room.
"Good evening," the announcer said, "My name is Travis Marshall, and this is Nightwatch. Tonight, we have a story that has certainly been a few years in the making, though the ending may surprise you. It has been almost two months since the now infamous protest and near disbanding of the Gargoyle Task Force, the experimental program here in Manhattan that combined the Gargoyles with the human law enforcement officers. No one who had been there that night will forget the sight of the young Gargoyle throwing herself in front of an anti-gargoyle protest organizer and saving his life." There was a short, blurry video, obviously recorded from the crowd, causing Nayeli to groan loudly and bury her face in her hands. "Since that night," the reporter continued over the video, "the citizens of Manhattan, and even the state of New York as a whole, seem to have rallied behind the Gargoyles." He began going into a little of the Manhattan clan's background, minus the sleeping spell, and beginning with their first confirmed sighting in Manhattan. He followed the timeline's highlights, a few of the lows, but mostly sticking to the positive stories.
Then, when he got to the point when the Gargoyles had begun training with the NYPD, he brought up the new gargoyles.
"And now, a short clip that we recorded last evening," Travis Marshall said, "to help you get to know these new faces."
One by one, the council's images flashed on the screen with their names and home locations in text at the bottom of the screen.
"That's right," Marshall said, once the clip was over. "There are more groups in the world, outside of New York. Because of the times and locations, we will attempt to update this story over the next few days as we are able to gather information and video from these locations. For now, we want to extend a hand of peace to these noble beings and gratitude from a grateful city as they continue to watch over us."
Elisa's brow raised in surprise. "That was interesting," she murmured to Talon, "Considering all of the coverage and misinformation they were spreading a few years ago."
"Tell me about it," Talon agreed softly.
"We are receiving word from a few of our international affiliates," Travis Marshall reported, "that while this report is airing around the world, we are getting confirmations from Japan, China, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Guatemala."
Elisa jerked in surprise and saw gargoyles go suddenly still.
"Did he just say…" Talon asked, a frown on his face.
"Ireland?" Elisa finished.
"Is it possible?" Garia breathed out.
"Are there more?" Angela asked, looking to the others. "Do you really think…"
"I tried to find them all," Demona said with a shrug. "But I may have missed a few somewhere, as my efforts were cut short," she sent a glare at her former clan mates, though it seemed to lack a lot of the former heat behind it.
"And now we go to a report in Ireland. Here is Darcy Gallagher, on location."
"Ireland?" Elisa burst out again.
"How many more can there be?" Lei-Ji asked, not taking her gaze from the screen.
"I do not know," Goliath said, slowly, tapping his chin with a talon. "But we must contact these new clans. Offer them a space on the council."
"That will take time," Bolin pointed out, "and the arrangements have already been made for many of the council to return home."
"Many," Goliath agreed with a nod, "but not all. If they are able to travel before the next arranged meeting with our current council members, then perhaps those who remain behind would suffice to help them, should they want it."
